Oesophageal hyperkeratosis: clinicopathological associations

Aims Oesophageal hyperkeratosis is rarely described. In contrast to hyperkeratosis of orolaryngeal mucosa, where its risk factors and association with squamous neoplasia are well‐studied, the prevalence and clinicopathological features of oesophageal hyperkeratosis are unknown. Methods and results We reviewed prospectively 1845 oesophageal biopsies and found hyperkeratosis in 37 (2.0%). Among 98 patients studied, hyperkeratosis occurred in two distinct settings: group 1 [within Barrett's oesophagus (BO)/adenocarcinoma, n = 61, 62%] and group 2 (outside BO/adenocarcinoma, n = 37, 38%). In contrast to group 1, hyperkeratosis in group 2 was more often multifocal (>3 foci in 51% versus 16%, P = 0.0001), involved mid‐oesophagus (51% versus 2%, P